Hybrid System offers the best in additive/subtractive technology at an affordable price

Albuquerque, New Mexico. April, 12 2016: Optomec, a global supplier of 3D Printing systems for production applications, today announced that Industrias Viwa, S.A. (Viwa) will showcase Optomec metal printing technology at the EXPOMAQ show held April 12th – 15th in Leon, Mexico. Viwa and Centroid, a maker of CNC machine tool controllers, partnered to implement LENS 3D printing technology into a CNC vertical mill. The hybrid CNC system, which was integrated in a matter of a few days, represents the best in additive and subtractive technology in a single machine tool at an affordable price. Live demonstrations of the hybrid CNC system will be shown in the Viwa booth # 219.

Optomec metal additive manufacturing solutions are based on its industry proven LENS technology for 3D Printed metals. Under a project sponsored by America Makes, Optomec packaged LENS technology into a modular print engine which can be integrated with other metal working platforms such as CNC mills, lathes, robots, custom gantries, or table system. This open system approach enables customers to cost-effectively deploy metal additive manufacturing technology to meet application specific requirements.

Viwa, based in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, began its history over 30 years ago and has a broad range of experience in CNC machine tools, robots and mechatronic systems. Over the years Viwa has continued to introduce advanced manufacturing technologies, including hybrid CNC and LENS standalone additive manufacturing systems, which the company distributes in Mexico and Central America.

The Viwa hybrid machine is a 4 axis CNC platform with laser safety upgrades for LENS additive processing. The machine’s motion is commanded by a Centroid M400 control, a PC based system with a dedicated motion processing board offering high performance and a friendly additive/subtractive user interface. With its robust construction, high performance control, automatic 16 tool changer, and additive capability, the hybrid LENS CNC system can be used for a wide range of applications, from rapid prototyping, to batch production machining, to mold and die manufacturing, and the repair of metal components.

LENS technology has been used in industry for over 15 years, providing cost-effective repair, rework and manufacture of high-performance metal components in materials such as titanium, stainless steel, and super alloys. LENS systems use the energy from a high-power laser to build up structures one layer at a time directly from powdered metals. The resulting fully functional metal structures offer excellent mechanical properties, similar to forged components for many applications. For more information on Optomec additive manufacturing technology, click here.

About Optomec Optomec is a privately-held, rapidly growing supplier of Additive Manufacturing systems. Optomec patented Aerosol Jet Systems for printed electronics and LENS 3D Printers for metal components are used by industry to reduce product cost and improve performance. Together, these unique printing solutions work with the broadest spectrum of functional materials, ranging from electronic inks to structural metals and even biological matter. Optomec has more than 200 marquee customers around the world, targeting production applications in the electronics, energy, life sciences and aerospace industries. For more information about Optomec, visit https://www.optomec.com/.